Anvil and pivoted jaw operated cap sealing machine



June 10,1947. PQDEL" 2,421,963

ANIVIVL AND PIVOTED JAW OPERATED CAP SEAI ING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1942 5 Sheets$heet 1 i INVENTOR Abrahqm Podzl;

. 0 M ATTORNEYS June 10, 1947. A. PODEL 2,421,963

v ANVIL AND PIVOTED JAW OPERATED CAP SEALING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BY 344 M ATTORNEYS Abra ha m Podel.

A. PODEL June 10, 1947.

ANVIL AND PIVOTED JAW OPERATED CAP SEALING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1942 s Sheets-Sheet 4 5 14% .mu F

INVENTOR Abra ham Podgl.

A. PODEL June 10, 1947.

ANVIL AND PIVOTED JAW OPERATED CAP SEALING MACHINE Filed June 6, 1942 5 SheetsSheet 5 is I Q 2 INVENTOR Abraham Podel.

M7 "7% ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1947 ,1 ,Claim. 21 J My'inventum re1ates to-a seahng machine. :It has to do, more particularly; with-a,- machineiior (sealing closure caps to containers.

At the {)GGSGHUTJIDQBAVGFY' p pular-sealed package :adopted for mar-ions azpmductscomprises-a :glass container 181K119; closure cap havingsaskirt adapted-$0 beteleseope'd over-the side wall-of. the

=container. This skirt has a bead formed therein in wnich -a; gasket is-dispose'd. Z'Ihe cap-issealed .on the glass containeri by :refonming the bead which: squeezesstheegasket against-g the rcontainer. -A=sea1ed package of "this-egeneral'utype is illus- .tnated inifthe patent:td-Scofie1d, No. 1,611,955,:01 December 28, :1926, a Glosure :caps of the. type inidicatediare :usuallysealed -on the containers by=an *a-nvih'membermhicheengages the topof i. the cap and bysegmental jaws which=extend inwardly beneathzthe 'bed and: which are-adapted to press or iorceathe 'beaqdsagainst theaanvil. tocompress the :rga'sket.

ionerofrthe obiectsxofnmy invention is to provide salsealingmmchine; 10f the-general type indi- 'c.ated-zwhichtwill-more efficiently. and more effectivelyseal containers-of the type indicated than \the prionartanachines.

:Anothemobjectmf any invention is: toprovide a .sealingmachineof .the typejndicated including-1a plurality of chuck units-which reiorm'theeaps @andsealthematothecontainers.

.amothenzobjectr oirmyfinvention is {to provide a sealing machine ofithe type indicatediwherein the sclmck amitsare :simple anmhave'. few parts subject to wear which results in moreaccurate sealing.

-iAnorheraobiectrofnny invention .-is tmvprovide -a. smachineazofzthe' tynefindicated shaving isealing chuck uni-tszwhichgare.selficontained and' which .can he :remOved easily for .:-c1eaning sand repairs oii-fon replacementhy :units for-difierentsize caps. .almitsspreferred form, myinvention comprises 1a; sealing chucknniiz tor a-machine. of, theegeneral type indicatedmhich 1 will-1 :efiectivelyreform the :caps and seal themonthe-eontainers. {The-chuck sinit'isxselfscontainedrand includesa cylindrical housing: havinglits lower end-.open with a sealing "ring-associatedtwithgsuch lower end. :Supported :centrallyzmithin' thehousing an anvi1:-member which :is provided: with: a; centering socket-Vin its Flower ,end fon-receiving.-a cap-and; a normally. extending prin gpressed plunger-tier engaging; the reap; r iSCtOf sealing jawsiarespivotallyrsupported ihy-ran inner: ringwwhichi is idisposed within the housing andwhich is removebiy carriedtbyi an :onte q i selsm i ni rhqusi b movement of the housing,zthe sealing ring wi-lh engage said 3' aws,- whi'chnare normally forced 1011i;- wardly by snrings and force; them to;:swing:inwardly -into engagement :with 'kthe': flange-sot :the cap to reiormitinto'sealing relationshipwittrthe container. Ihe-anvihalso movesvvertically with the housing and holds; the cap. in' properzmssociation with-thecontainer.

The preferred embodimentcofi my:invention. is illustrated in the-accompanying drawings-wherein similar eharacters of referencedesignate .correspending parts and wherein Figure 1 is-axsideelevational view, partlytbroken away, of a, sealing machine. Withavhi'chmyzsealing-chu'ck-unit may beemployed.

Figure 2 i is is, detail, -partly; in .-.elevation and partly in vertical section;ofrthe-centraiportion of I the machine: and illustrating rparticularlywthe sealing chuck units.

' Figui'e -34sa view, mainly in .'vertica1,.-section, illustrating one 01"the SB8i1ii1gvChuGk mnits,:.the

' jaws-of the chuck being open.

Figure 4 is a siniilarview butshowingthe jaws of the chuck closed.

Figure-5 4s a detail,- in -:vertioa1:secti0n, eLthe lower portionof the chuck 'showing-thecontainer with ak-cap thereon; in--sealing= position but before the jaws start to close.

Figure 6 is -aTsirn i1ar--view showing=the :jaws starting to close.

*Figure: 7- is a similar -view showing the'giaws in closed positiona's they reform the head in the-skirt ofth'e clap.

Figure 8 is 1a; view; in -verticaL-section,=of a container with a. capsealed thereon by my maehine. '-;Figure* 9 -'is=-a perspective view, partly broken aweyiof two'bf the sea'lli-rigthuck units.

' fFigure- 10 ;a=view{i5art1yin-' horizontal: section a'n'd nz irtly in plan; cr-jneof the seedling chuck units.

' "-With reference to the drawingsgl -have illustrated a machine with which my sealingachuck unit-may be -emp1oye'd as ooinprisinga; base-portion i--of substantiallyrectangiilancro'ss section,

es shown=best in Figure 1. The base r'ilatefl of thish ase por t ionk l is carried :by levelingscrews sr-aacks '3 "disposed at eaeh c'ornerthereof. f The base portion- 'I is providedwith tour legs 1a .and

with vertical-walls 5w-hichere removable.- 'I'hus,

a complete housing is-ior med tori the main drivmechenisnrfand-other per-ts ofthe machine. Atpneedge of thejoase 'gio'rt-ion" I; Whichl'will term thejtrontsedge; a oonveyer-uniE-is; disposed supported-independently thereof. t ipon verticql 'les'sl chainkbitglfl' whichiis compos'ediif apiuwheel I99.

rality of plates II which are connected to each other by means of hinge portions. At longitudinally spaced intervals, this conveyer belt I9 carries transversely extending upstanding container engaging cleats. The belt I9 is supported by an idler sprocket I3 (Figure l) and by a driven sprocket I4.l'The-.sprockets l3and I4 are rotatably carried'on' the opposite outer ends of supporting beams I5, Brackets I6 are secured to the front legs Ia of the base portion and support the adjacent beams I5. Thus, the upper flight of the belt I9 is carried by the members I5. The lower flight of the belt is adapted to extend through a trough structure I8. This trough structure is supported by brackets I9 which are secured to the front legs Ia of the base portion I (Figure 1).

The sprocket I4 is driven my means of an endless chain 29 (Figure 1), which passes around a sprocket 2I. As previously indicated, the sprocket I4 drives the belt I9. The chain 29 is driven by a sprocket portion 25 which is carried by a member 28 keyed to shaft 21.

' As shown in Figure 1, the idler sprocket I3 which supports the belt I9 is keyed on a shaft 82 which is rotatably mounted on a bearing support 83. The support 83 is supported on the beams I by means of a block 83a which is welded to beams I5. Member 83 is mounted for longitudinal movement on member 83a by bolt and slot connections 84. The member 83 may be adjusted longitudinally by means of a screw 85. Adjustment of the sprocket I3 in this manner will adjust the tension of the .belt I8.

A guard plate 86 is provided adjacent the drive chain 29 for the conveyer. This plate is secured to the outer member I5.

The upper flight of the conveyer belt ID has longitudinally extending guide rails 81 associated therewith. These rails are disposed adjacent the opposite edges of the conveyer belt. The guide rails 81 are supported by a plurality of longitudinally spaced brackets 88 which are secured to the members I5.

The cleats on the conveyer belt III are provided for positioning the containers in regular longitudinally spaced relationship on the conveyer. In order to cause each cleatvto engage the container associated therewith, I provide the unit 91 which is not shown in detail.

After the containers pass the unit 9l, they are conveyed to a cap-feeding and applying unit IIII which includes a cap magazine II3 that is vertically adjustable by means including the hand The cap magazine and cap-feeding mechanism is the same as that disclosed in the co-pending application of Harry E. Stover, Serial No. 427,966, filed January 23, 1942, now Patent No. 2,355,479, dated August 8, 1944. The cap unit IIII is actuated by means including the cam I46 rotatably supported on bracket I42.

A previously indicated, the machine is adapted to seal containers with caps which are of such a type that the skirt thereof must be reformed in order to squeeze the gasket, contained within the skirt, against the wall of the glass container. For example, asshown best in Figures 5 to 8, inclusive, the cap may comprise a diskdikeportion I64 having a skirt I65 ;adapted to telescope ,over the upper end of the container I66. This the outer surface of the container I66. However, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the sealing of this particular type of cap on a container.

The containers, with the caps loosel applied thereto by the cap feeding and applying unit, are next moved into association with an in-ieed star wheel I69 (Figure 1) which serves to remove the containers from the conveyer and feed them to a turret-type sealing unit I19. The unit I19 is located laterally of the straight-line conveyer belt In in almost tangential relationship thereto. The star wheel I69 is located between the conveyer unit and the sealing unit I79 and has a guide plate associated therewith.

The star wheel I69 is disposed, as previously indicated, in substantially tangential relationship to the conveyer belt I9 and to the sealing unit I19. A second out-feed star wheel I84 is disposed in similar relationship to the conveyer and sealing units at a point on the opposite side of the sealing unit H9.

The sealing unit I19, as previously indicated, is of the rotary turret type. It is carried by a stationary column I89 (Figure 2). This column I89 has its lower end supported by the base plate 2. A sleeve-like bearing portion closely surrounds column I89. In surrounding relationship to this bearing portion I93, an article-supporting unit is provided. This unit comprises a casting 496 which is provided with a sleeve-like central portion. This casting I96 is mounted on hearing portion I93 for rotation. Above the casting I96 in surrounding relationship to the column I89, is an upstanding sleeve I98. This sleeve has its lower end resting on a thrust bearing I99 which is supported on the upper edge of a standard. The lower end of sleeve I98 is provided with a hub portion 299 which is bolted, by means of bolts 29I, to the casting I96. The sleeve I98 is free to rotate on column I89. Furthermore, member I96 is free to rotate relative to the column. Members I96 and I98 will rotate together because they are connected by the bolts 29L It will be apparent that thrust bearing |I99 not only supports sleeve I98 but also supports member I96. A suitable drive (not shown) is provided for rotating casting I96.

The member I96 is provided with four sockets which are vertically disposed at circumferentially spaced intervals. Each of these sockets is adapted to receive an article-supporting table unit 22I.

Each article supporting table unit 22I includes a plunger which carries an article-receiving table. This table has a disk-like upper portion having an annular peripheral flange 223 and a centrally disposed depending socket portion 224. The socket portion 224 receives the reduced upper end 225 of plunger 2M. Vertical movement of the article supporting units 22I is produced by suitable cam mechanism (not shown).

Rotation of the star wheels I69 and I84 is so timed relative to the movement of the conveyer The enemas ceiving'n'otches 231 corresponding "in number to that'of the'units 221.

Mounted'onth'e upper end of the column l89,' is ahead 238 whichis adapted to'rotate thereon.-

Tliis head supportsa' plurality of'circumferentially spaced sealing-chuck units 239-as shown best in Figures 1; 2 and 9; In the-drawings four of these' units 2 39are shown. Each unit'239-is iii-axial alignment with-one-of the article-supporting -units"22 1; However, it is'to be understood that I may provide a'diiferent number of units239on my machine; If 'a' diiferentnumber of sealing chuck units are provided, it is-apparcut that 'a similar numberof article-supporting units 'will" be provided.

Asillustrated best in Figure 2, the head 238 includes a supportingsleeve 240' which surrounds the upper end of "sleeve l98-and is splined'thereto. The sleeve l98-is threaded'as indicated by the number 24 l.- On this threaded sleeve abevel gear 242 is'mountedand this gear is internally threaded" for cooperation with the threaded sleeve." The lower end-ofthe supporting sleeve 240 rests'on a bushing 243 which is supported on gear 242; The-gear 242 is adapted to berotated by means of a pinioninot shown). When the gear 242- is rotated, it feeds-axially of the threaded sleeve I88, the direction of the axial movement depending 'upon the direction of'rotation of the gear. This axial movement ofthe gear will raise or lower the sleeve 24!! which will notrotate on column I89 but which will slide axially thereof due' to its splined' connection.

The'upper and lower portions of the sleeve member249'are' of circular cross section. However. the intermediate portion 245 thereof is of substantially square cross section. To each flat surface of this portion 245. a bracket 246 is secured.

Each of the brackets 246 (Figures 2 and 9) is provided with an inner vertical portion 250 which is bolted by bolts 251 to the flat outer surface of portion 2450f member 249. Each bracket is provided with a pair of spaced radially extending ears 252. A horizontal portion 253 is formed integral with the lower edge of vertical portion 259 and with the lower edges of care 252;

Each of the units 239, as shown best in Fi ures 2, 3, 4 and 9, comprises a cylindrical housing portion 254. This housing portion 254 has a closed flat top 255 and -an open lower end. The

fiat top 255 is provided with a centrally disposed upwardly projecting cylindrical boss 256. This boss 255 is mounted for vertical movement in an opening. 251 formedin the horizontal portion 25301 the bracket 246. The boss 256 is bifurcated and receives the lower end of a link 258 which is pivoted thereto by a transverse pin 259. The upper end of the link 258 is pivotally connected by a pin 260 to the bifurcated lower portion 261 of a bell crank lever 262. This lever is pivoted between the'ears 252 by, means of a transverse pin 283. The upper'end of the lever 262' is pivotally connected byia transverse pin 264 to a horizontal link265. The opposite end of this link 265 is pivotally connected by a pin 266'to the upper end of a. link 2151. The lower end of 'this'link 261'is connected. by a pin 268 to a portion of the ears 252; It will benoted th'at'the pins 264 and 266"and the pins 263 and 268 are in horizontal alignment with each other. It will also be noted that the link 26! is parallel to the upper portion-of the'lever262: Consequently, regardless-of thepositions of lever "2'82 and link 251, the link 265 -will b e'in horizontal position. This wil1'always=keep-' the roller. 269; carried by link 2155, in horizontal position. It will be noted that-in :the -ears-252, adjacent the endsofpin 268; slots-218 are provided to Permit accessthereto-in order to'remov'e-th'e pin to permit link 258 to-be disconnected from.lever 261.

The'roller 269 is always maintained lin' horizontal position so'th'at it will properlycooperate with a cam structure illustrated generally by the numeral 211; to-be described in'detail h'ereinafter. This cam structure will producehori zontal movement-of-the -roller ZBBd-uring rotation of'm'ember" 240 which carries-the sealing chucks 2393 This, in turn, will produce an upward pull or a-downw'ard push on the upper end of link 258, since the lever 262 will be'swung. about the pivot point 263. Consequently; this will move the housing 254 of unit 23911;) or down relative to bracket 246.

Disposed within an enlarged shouldered portion212'at theextreme lower endof' housing 254 is a sealing ring 213, as shown best in Figures 2, 3 to 7 and 9.- The lower surface of this ring is substantially fiush'with the lower edge This sealing ring is secured in of housing 254. position by means of bolts -214"(Figure-3) threaded upwardly into the housing portion 254. The inner lower edgeof ring '213 is chamfered' as-in dicatedby the numeral 215. An anvil-supporting member216- which is of cylindrical form-is disposed centrally within-the housing 254. This member 216 -has"an integral sealing anvil 2110f disk-like form on its'lower'end; The upper endor this member 216*is provided with areduced hollow stem 218'which is threadedinto a collar 219--disposed within the head or top 255 of housing 254. Themember 219*is held inposition within portion 255 by means of a screw 280 threadedthrough this portion and having its inner end'extending into an annular groove 28! formed in member 219 adjacent its lower edge. The vertical position of the anvil member 211, relative to the sealing ring 213 and sealing jaws 381, may be adjusted by threading the stem 218 into' or out of the collar 219. The collar will be prevented from rotating by the screw 280 when it is sufliciently tightened. Relative rotation between members 218 and 219 is normally prevented by'means of pins 282'and 283, carried by member 216; These pins are diametrically opposed and cooperate with a series of diametrically opposed pairs-of openings 284 formed in the lower edge of collar 219. Pin 283 is normally forced upwardly by. a spring 285, disposed in a socket formed in member 216. Pin 282 is normally'forced upwardly by means of a screw member 286; disposed in the lower threaded end of a socket formed in member 216. When it is desired to rotate member 216 relative to collar 219, the screw 286 is threaded out of the socket until the upper 'end of the pin- 2 82 drops from its cooperating opening 284 in member 219. The member 216 may then be rotated relative to member 219; the pin 283 merely, riding into and out of successive openings 284. When the proper ad justment has been'made, the pin 283'sn'aps into one of the openings 284 and will, therefore, align the pin 282 with the opposite opening 2840f a pair of such openings. Then it is merely necessary to feed the screw 296 'back into the socket to cause the pin 2 82 to be raised until it extends into the opening 284. Tlien'the member 216 will belocked in adjusted position and the anvil 211 will be held 'in its adjusted vertical position 7 relative to sealing ring 213 and sealing jaws 30L Disposed in surrounding relationship to the member 218 above the anvil 211 is a sealing j supporting ring 281. This ring .281 is mounted rigidly and vertical movement of member 216 with relation thereto will be permitted. Disposed in surrounding relationship to the ring 281, is a supporting ring 288 (Figures 3, 4, 9 and 10). The ring 288 is suppo ted within the housing 254 by means of a plurality of vertically disposed bolts 289. These bolts are disposed in tubular portions 280 of the housing. They are provided with reduced portions 29l which pass through the horizontal portion 253 of the cooperating brackets 250. Nuts 2-92 are threaded on the upper ends of these bolts into engagement with portion 253. The lower end of the bolts 289 are provided with transverse horizontally disposed notches 293. These notches 293 receive the outer edge of the ring 288. Thus, the bolts 288 suspend the ring 288 in position within the housing 254.

The ring 281 is supported within the ring 288 by means of outwardly projecting lugs 294 formed at circumferentially spaced intervals from the periphery of the ring 281. These lugs 294 (Figures 3, 9 and 10) normally rest on a series of similarly spaced inwardly projecting lugs 295 formed on the inner periphery of ring 288. Consequently, the ring 281 may be removed from the ring 288 by rotating ring 281 relative to ring 288 until the lugs 294 are moved into coincidence with the spaces 296 between the lugs 285 on ring 288. Then, the ring 281 can drop out of the ring 288. To normally prevent this relative rotation, I provide the screw 291 (Figures 3 and 10). This screw 291 is threaded through ring 288 and when tightened will engage the outer surface of ring 281. Access to the outer end of screw 291 may be had from a point outside of housing 254 by means of an opening 298 formed in the housing.

The ring 281 is provided with a horizontal outwardly projecting portions 298 formed on its lower edge. Dependin from this portion 299 are a series of radially projecting lugs 300. Between each pair of these lugs 300 the upper end of one of the sealing jaw members 30! is disposed. Each sealing jaw member is pivotally connected to a pair of lugs 300 by means of a transversely extending pin 302. The lower sealing portions 303 of the jaws form a complete circle when the jaws are closed. Each jaw is provided with an inner cap skirt engaging shoulder portion 304 projecting inwardly therefrom. Each jaw is provided with an outwardly projecting shoulder portion 305 adapted to be engaged by the sealing ring 213. The lower ends of the jaws are normally swung outwardly into contact with ring 213 by means of compression springs 306 disposed in vertical sockets 301 formed in ring member 281. The lower ends of these springs bear against inwardly projecting portions 308 of jaw members 30L It will be apparent that the upper portions of the jaws and the top surface of sealing anvil 211 are so shaped that they will not interfere with each other.

The sealing anvil supporting member 216 is provided with a centrally disposed socket 309. The lower portion of this socket has the enlarged upper end 318 of a pin 3| I disposed therein for vertical movement. This pin 31 I extends downwardly through an opening 3l2 which is formed in the anvil 211. The pin 3 is normally held in its lowermost position, where it extends a considerable distance below anvil 211, by means of a compression spring 3|3. This spring bears against the upper end of the pin 3| I. The upper end of this spring is engaged and centered within socket 389 by means of a pointed nut 3M threaded into the upper end of stem 218 of member 216. The anvil 211 is provided with a downwardly extending peripheral cap-engaging flange 3i5. In the sealing operation, when the container with a cap thereon is lifted into association with the sealing chuck, the cap will be engaged by the pin 3 which will serve to hold it in position on the container during movement into sealing position and to force the cap and container out of the chuck after sealing to prevent stickin in the chuck.

It will be apparent that the entire sealing chuck unit may be'removed by removing nuts 282 and the pin 260 which connects link 258 to lever 28!. The anvil-supporting member 216 may be removed from the chuck unit by loosening screw 288. The jaw-supporting ring 281 may be removed by loosening screw 281 and rotating the ring relative to ring 288, as previously described. These members, and the members which they carry, may be replaced with different size members for sealing different size caps.

The operation of the sealing chuck unit is illustrated best in Figures 5 to I. The container with the cap thereon is first lifted into association with the sealing chuck unit by vertical movement of the container-supporting unit 22! previously described. The anvil 211 and ring 213 will be in their" uppermost positions. As previously indicated, the lower end of pin 3 will engage the cap as the container is moved into sealing position and will prevent accidental displacement of the cap before sealing position within the chuck is reached. Eventually the container will be lifted to the position indicated in Figure 5, where the flange 3I5 of the anvil 211 surrounds the upper portion of the skirt of the cap and its lower edge engages the horizontal upper portion 181a of the bead of the cap. The sealing jaws 3M will be in their outermost expanded condition, as illustrated in Figure 5. The housing 254 and the sealing ring 213 carried thereby will then be moved downwardly, as indicated in Figure 6. During this movement, the jaw-supporting ring 281 and the jaws 30! carried thereby will remain in a fixed horizontal position. Downward movement of the housing 254 will be produced by lever 26| acting to move the boss 25B downwardly through opening 251 in the horizontal portion 253 of bracket 246. Bolts 289 secured to horizontal portion 253 of the bracket serve to keep the ring 288 and ring 281 in a fixed horizontal position. As the sealing ring 213 moves downwardly, it engages the outwardly projecting portions 305 of the jaws 3M and contracts the jaws or forces them inwardly, as indicated in Figure 6. At the same time that the ring 213 is moved downwardly, the anvil 211 is also moved. As previously indicated, the anvil 211 and the ring 213 are relatively adjusted to the proper vertical position and maintained in such position since the anvil 211 and the ring 213 are both supported from the housing 254. This adjustment of anvil 211 will also adjust it relative to the sealing jaws 38! so as to vary the pressure exerted by the anvil and the sealing jaws on the cap.

In the initial downward movement of ring 213, its inner chamfered corner 215 engages the camlike upper surface 3l6 of the portion 305 on the 9.? sealing. jaws; but: upon further downward lmVe.-- ment the inner-surfaceof ring-213 will engage :the' outer vertical -.surface:3-I-'i thereof; as shown best iii-Figure 7: The shoulder 304' on-the. inner: surface of r each sealing ija w iszprovid'ed with .a'-=ver:--

tical surface; 31 8 and an; upper beveled surface:

3I9;-' Thesesurfaces engaging the portion I612) of .theibead'ofthe cap, after 'the jaws -are closed and the anvil.=brn1gs the cap'down to meet'the jaws, will reform'lit, inthe manner indicated irr Figures 7 and 8, andlwillifirmly press-the gasket sealingring- 213 will merely. ride along th'e'vertical-surfacesi I 1 of ..the .lower ends" of theisealing jaws; "Thus; thesealingchuck'sand theianvil will cooperate to seal. the .cap our-the container;

Thecam meansifll for. imparting the'sneces sary movementsto .the levers 26 I to operate the sealing 'chuck units .239is shown best in FIgu're ZZ Thetcam structure comprises a lsupportin'g tasting 320 provided with a sleeve-like portion 32I disposed in surrounding relationship to the upper end of column I89 and splined thereon so that it will be stationary with column I89. However, it can move vertically with member 240 when such member is adjusted vertically. The uppermost position of member 320 on column I99 is limited by means of a cap 322 bolted to the upper end of the column. The member 320 is provided with a disk-like horizontal portion 323. This portion 323 rests on a, thrust bearing 324 disposed on the upper end of the member 240. The portion 323 is provided with a depending flange 325 which surrounds the bearing 324. A centering ring 326 is bolted, by bolts 321, to the upper reduced edge of member 240'. A cooperating ring 328 is bolted, by means of bolts 329, to the depending flange 325 of member 323. Thus, the member 329 and the member 240 will be connected by a bearing structure which holds these members in proper relationship and which per mits relative rotation. I

On the lower surface of member 323 a cam 330 is provided in surrounding relationship to column I89 and has a vertical cam portion with which the rollers 269 engage. It will be apparent that downward pull exerted by the housing 254, and associated parts of each sealing chuck unit 239, tends to swing the upper end of lever 282 inwardly.

As the units 239 revolve in a counterclockwise direction about column I89 and relative to member 3211, the rollers 269 thereof are in engagement with the cam. Initially each roller is at its outermost position relative to the axis of colunm I89 to insure that the housing 254 will be in its uppermost position and, therefore, the jaws 3M will be in expanded condition ready to receive the upper end of the container and its cap. As the rollers continue to move relative to the cam, each roller is successively moved radially inwardly 10 closerto' the axiszof column I89. This will swing thempperaend of lever 262 inwardly, lowering the housing-254 and contracting thesealing chuck jawsz-30I (around the container .cap, aspreviously indicated.

If :the diameter ofthe containers being sealed varies; thereis'a danger of the:chu'ckS3M-eXert-' in'gtoo much force-thereon and crushing;:the

upper-end. of'the container inwardly. To prevent this,---I provide a safety'feature which prevents excessive pressure being exerted by'the sealing jaws 'duringrthasealing period. This safety feature comprises a;=movable cam section 33) providedinthe cam. lt'is mounted for radial movement in" guideway. formed. beneath the portion 323rof'member 3'2fl. This guideway. receives a' reducedportion'335' ofmember 33Ib and'is' formed by the lower surface of member-.323; .and removable strips 33'I'which are bolted to'member 323. The member'33lb'isznormally forcedinwardly yieldingly bythestructure'i illustrated generally by numerals 339'- and 3H which 'need' not be described in. detail herein: If'the sealing jaws -30I'tend to exerttoo much force on .the container, the upper end of'th'evlever 262. will tend-to swing outwardly due-to the :fact that theresistance :to contraction of the sealing jaws will tend to move the housing 254= upwardly. The camsection- 33Ib will, therefore, yield outwardly; When each roller passes thesection' 33Ib,:.the

section 33Ib will be moved back to -its ori'ginal position. As the rollers 269 l continue to move along the cam, the-rollers will again be moved outwardly farther away from the: axis of thecolumn I89. This will cause the housing 254 of each unit 239 to be drawn upwardly, thereby allowing the jaws 30I to expand and release the container. If the capped container tends to stick in the chuck, the pin 3| I will force it downwardly therefrom.

As indicated best in Figure 1, all of the units supported on the upper end of column I89 are enclosed in a, housing 341 which will protect these parts. This housing is removable and is slipped down over these parts, the upper end merely resting on the upper end of the column.

It will be apparent that I have provided a plurality of chuck units which reform the caps and seal them onto the containers. These chuck units are simple and have few parts subject to wear which results in more accurate sealing. The sealing chuck units are self-contained and can be removed easily for cleaning and repairs or to be replaced by units for different size caps.

Various other advantages will be apparent from the preceding description, the drawings and the following claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In closure sealing apparatus, a sealing chuck unit, said sealing chuck unit comprising a cylindrical housing having a closed upper end and an open lower end, an upstanding boss on the closed upper end by means of which the housing may be moved vertically, a fixed bracket in which said boss is mounted for vertical movement, a sealing ring removably mounted at the lower edge of said housing, an anvil member supported centrally within said housing, said anvil member having a closure-engaging disk-like lower end which has a centrally-disposed socket for receiving the closure, said anvil member also including an upstanding cylindrical stem, a centrally disposed socket formed in the upper end of said housing, a threaded collar disposed in said socket,

means for'maintaining said collar in said socket, said istem having a threaded upper end: which fitsinto the threaded interior of said collar so as to provide vertical adjustment of said anvil relative to said housing, means for normally maintaining said stem in selected adjusted angular positions to which it has been rotated relative to said collar, said means comprising a pair 10f diametrically opposed vertical pins carried by said stem and adapted to engage aseries of. pairs of sockets formed in the lower edge of saidcollar, one of said pins being urged upwardly constantly by a spring into contact-with the 'lower edge of said collar and the other being-manually adjustable Vertically intosandi out of engagement; with said co1l'ar;an outer'supporting ring disposed withinsaid housing at a point spaced above the lower" edgethereof; means for suspending said-ring 'in fii'red vertical position .to permit relative vertical-movementof the housing, said means comprising members .extending through thehous- 1 ingiand' supported. by s'aid bracket, an inner sealing'jaw carrying-ring disposed within said outer.- rin'g, -'said outer -ring being provided with-inwardly projecting lugs and said innerring being provided with outwardly projecting lugs which are normally superimposed but which can be,

broughtout nth-alignment 'by rotation of said inner ring to permit, removal of said ring, a memberextendingithrough said outerring into engagement with saidinner ring to normally prevent relative rotation, saidijnner ring having a series of circumi'erentially; spaced pairsof depending lugs, a sealing jaw having-its upper end REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fi le' of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,047,846 Wrightet al. July 14, 19.36 2,047,406 Capping July 14,1936 958,769 Rundell May '15; 1934 2,035,983 Roehm Mar. 31, '1936' 2,074,296 'Mitchell Mar. 30, 1937 2,258,185 Lyon Oct. 7, 1941 1,029,681 Haight June 18, 1912 1,393,581 Sells Oct." 11;. 1921-- 1,731,295 Cornell Oct. '15, '1929 1,312,640 Mallinckrodt Aug. 12, 1919 2,154,409 Podel Apr. 11, 1939 1,945,954 Podel Feb. 6, 1934 1,134,065 Hull Mar. 30, 1915 2,355,479 Stover- Aug. 8, 1944 Hull Dec. 17, 1907 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,421,963. June 10, 1947.

ABRAHAM PODEL It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 1, line 18, for the Word bed read bead; column 4, line 14, after plate insert the reference numeral 179; line 27, after portion insert 193; line 55, after plunger insert 214; column 5, line 39, after the period insert the following sentence Each of these brackets supports one of the sealing chuck units 239.; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of September, A. D. 1947.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Uommz'asioner of Patents.

Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,421,963. June 10, 1947. ABRAHAM PODEL It is hereby certified that errors appear in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Column 1, line 18, for the word bed read bead; column 4, line 14, after plate insert the reference numeral 179; line 27, after portion insert 193; line 55, after plunger insert 214; column 5, line 39, after the period insert the following sentence Each of these brackets supports one of the sealing chuck units 239.; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of September, A. D. 1947.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

